Texas A&M LHP Justin Lamkin named SEC's Co-Pitcher of the Week
Spin a gem. Win a weekly honor.
On Monday, the Southeastern Conference announced that Texas A&M left-handed Justin Lamkin earned Co-Pitcher of the Week honors for his performance vs. No. 21 Mississippi State.
Lamkin shares the award with Arkansas’ Hagen Smith.
With the Aggies’ series against the Bulldogs even, Lamkin toed the rubber to begin Saturday’s rubber match.
His afternoon was nothing short of magical as he guided A&M to a 6-1 series-clinching victory.
Across 7.1 innings, Lamkin allowed just one run on two hits while striking out 12 and walking one.
“Coach Max (Weiner) told us not to try and go out there and strike everybody out,” Lamkin said postgame on Saturday. “Just go out there and make your pitches, dominate the zone and stick to our plan, and that’s what the goal is, and we did it.”
Lamkin undoubtedly stuck it to the Mississippi State lineup.
He carried a perfect game into the fifth and didn’t allow a Bulldog to reach third base until the eighth.
In fact, Hunter Hines’ fifth-inning double represented the only base runner against Lamkin prior to his final inning of work.
When Jim Schlossnagle ultimately took the ball from him, the Blue Bell Park crowd of 7,159 rose to its feet to celebrate Lamkin’s day of dominance.
“It was great getting the support from my teammates and all of the 12th Man,” Lamkin said. “It was surreal and just really cool to experience that.”
A sophomore from Corpus Christi, Lamkin’s 7.1 innings pitched and 12 punch outs both represent career highs.
On the year, Lamkin is now 2-0 with a 1.48 ERA in 30.1 innings. He has struck out 44 and walked eight as opposing batters are hitting just .160 against him.
Despite being his first weekly honor, this is not the first time the SEC has taken the time to recognize Lamkin, naming him to the 2023 SEC Tournament All-Tournament Team after a dazzling start vs. South Carolina last May in Hoover.
Lamkin’s next start is slated to be Saturday night vs. Auburn at Blue Bell Park.